Minster Badge replaces York Residents Discount Parking Permit

THE start of the new £20 parking pass for York residents has been criticised by opposition councillors.

The Minster Badge will be available for city taxpayers only but will cost £20 for two years. It replaces the York Residents Discount Parking Permit.

The council have sent information to all homes in the city explaining the scheme, which works by letting council taxpayers “opt in” to get discounted parking through the council website york.gov.uk/minsterbadge, from July 1 onwards.

The council says the new pass will build on other parking incentives in York, like the free parking periods launched this month.

The old scheme, one of the only free residents’ parking schemes in the country, will be dropped from the end of August. The plan, which was approved at council cabinet in February, has sparked a political row, with opposition politicians calling it wrong to scrap the popular free scheme, while the Labour group says the new scheme will help stop abuse of the passes by people from outside York while the cash raised will help plug a gap in central government funding.

Liberal Democrat Nigel Ayre, who represents Heworth Without, said: “With Labour wasting so much money elsewhere many will wonder why the resource couldn’t be found to continue the scheme, which actually gives something back to York taxpayers. I also wonder what impact more expensive parking will have on businesses in the city-centre still reeling from Labour’s Lendal Bridge debacle.”

Cllr David Levene, Labour’s cabinet member for transport, said: “”The introduction of a modest charge - residents can make their money back in just five evening visits a year - for Minster Badges is necessary to stop abuse by non-residents and make savings made necessary by massive cuts from the Conservative-Lib Dem Government, which local Lib Dems continue to support.”

Savings of £280,000 have to be found in the Parking Services budget alone, he added.

“It’s also ironic that the Lib Dems are now interested in supporting businesses after calling for Labour to ignore businesses’ recommendation for the free parking pilot we have just launched, in order to protect the recent above-average increases in city centre footfall.”

The old York Residents Discount Parking Permit will not be accepted after August 31. Use of the badge from then may incur a penalty.

'The old scheme, one of the only free residents’ parking schemes in the country, will be dropped from the end of August.'

Careful now, this looks like a bit of spin. Parking itselfwas never free was it ? just a trivial discount offered which was not really significant.

'The old scheme, one of the only free residents’ parking schemes in the country, will be dropped from the end of August.'
Careful now, this looks like a bit of spin. Parking itselfwas never free was it ? just a trivial discount offered which was not really significant.nearlyman

....My mistake !!.........but evening parking when everywhere is shut is no big deal....it always used to be free anyway. The charge was introduced to make the concession look like a great act of generosity to those who wish to come and participate in the night time carnage that is Yorks evening 'continental' scene !

....My mistake !!.........but evening parking when everywhere is shut is no big deal....it always used to be free anyway. The charge was introduced to make the concession look like a great act of generosity to those who wish to come and participate in the night time carnage that is Yorks evening 'continental' scene !nearlyman

""The council have sent information to all homes in the city explaining the scheme"" Not to me they didn't. Had to read it in Press. Parking I believe was free on a night anyway and only cheaper with the residents pass so was never a FREE PARKING scheme.

""The council have sent information to all homes in the city explaining the scheme"" Not to me they didn't. Had to read it in Press. Parking I believe was free on a night anyway and only cheaper with the residents pass so was never a FREE PARKING scheme.another grump

I won't bother either. Instead I'll favour the out of town shopping and restaurants with free parking. I wrote to my local councillor and was told that I could make the £20 back in 5 evening visits to the city - I think I've only parked once in the evening during the last year so its really not worth it. Its a shame that the Council can't find a way of managing the old Minster badge scheme to make sure only York residents are using it...but then again they're not very good at stuff like that are they?!

I won't bother either. Instead I'll favour the out of town shopping and restaurants with free parking. I wrote to my local councillor and was told that I could make the £20 back in 5 evening visits to the city - I think I've only parked once in the evening during the last year so its really not worth it. Its a shame that the Council can't find a way of managing the old Minster badge scheme to make sure only York residents are using it...but then again they're not very good at stuff like that are they?!Rollonsummer

I thought the idea of local government was to facilitate the smooth running of the city for it's citizens by keeping the streets clean and well lit so we can go about our daily business. Not to fleece us at every available opportunity.

I thought the idea of local government was to facilitate the smooth running of the city for it's citizens by keeping the streets clean and well lit so we can go about our daily business. Not to fleece us at every available opportunity.Benjamin the Ass